’)Michael Fletcher from The Washington Post, congratulations on being this week’s Dumbest Reporter In America. Here’s the doozy:
Michael Fletcher from the Washington Post?
Question: Yes, thank you, sir. What is your reaction to Alex Rodriguez’s admission that he used steroids as a member of the Texas Rangers?
It’s amazing how unimportant this issue is. You’ve got the ear of the most important man in the world and Michael Fletcher asks him about some stupid baseball player? We’re in the middle of a fiscal crisis, two wars, and numerous other national and international issues. A-Rod could shoot up heroin, snort cocaine and disrobe during the all-star game and it would be immaterial. Reporters always ask presidents about these stupid baseball issues out of some misplaced “national pasttime” junk. Stop it! It doesn’t matter.
I agree it’s a dumb question, but it doesn’t hurt for Americans to get a chance to realize that Obama is a thoughtful guy with many interests, not a little neo-con talking point machine.
As Josh Marshall wrote recently, any time Obama speaks on national television, Republicans lose big-time, if only to remind people that Bush II is finally gone for good.
Go Orioles!
I think there’s two things to take into consideration, for better or worse. Unlike Bush, who may have been “imposing”, based on arrogance, Obama is an impressive man, but also a “real” person one can ask a question about himself, and his thoughts about “real things” in the world – the stuff that shows up on the news pretending to be important – that the folks at home care about, and are distracted by. Unlike Bush, he’s capable of just plain offering up a thought on the spot.
That being the case though, reporters are going to the “default topic to talk to guys – especially black guys – about”…sports.
That said, a more interesting and telling question to ask President Obama would something along the lines of “A-Rod is still on top of the world despite engaged in an illegal activity banned by his sport that is somewhat akin to cheating…and yet Micheal Phelps is public enemy number one over hitting a bong. What do you think of the different reactions?”
“A-Rod is still on top of the world despite engaged in an illegal activity banned by his sport that is somewhat akin to cheating…and yet Micheal Phelps is public enemy number one over hitting a bong. What do you think of the different reactions?”
Now this, I might pay to hear answered.
Personally as an A Rod fan and Michael Fletcher supporter, I’m glad he asked this question. When it comes to the whole steroids issue, the Government has been involved and actively speaking on it so why not ask the highest ranking government official what he feels about this??? Kick rocks bastards!!!!
Come on O, he’s the President of the US, not the President of the Economy. You may not be a baseball fan, but a lot of people are, and this is a huge revelation. It’s relevant to our culture and it was entirely appropriate for him to comment on it. And I loved his answer: he showed himself to be more credible on baseball than a certain former team owner.
…this is a huge revelation.
How so? A professional baseball player taking steroids and lying about it?
I’m shocked, SHOCKED! that gambling is taking place here.